It already happened to me but I wasn't surprised at all. I raised my son without any religious affiliation because I wanted him to discover it for himself. I was forcibly raised a Catholic and had no intention of doing the same to him. So, instead of brain washing him with my own beliefs I allowed him to peruse all that is out there and make his own decisions. Religious beliefs are so incredibly personal and frankly I don't think it's anyone's business what someone else believes in.....and yet people stick their noses in it all the time!

Joh 17:3This means everlasting life, their coming to know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.He envite many to live out eternity in a paradise on earth.He never abandon that purpose , it will still take place.

You asked the question in terms of a parent and an adult child. If I spend all my hard-earned money to send my child to college believing this will help him later in life, yet he decides to use the money for a career that has no future at all (having previously tried it myself) I would be very sad. I can not be angry at him since I chose to protect and prepare my child the best way I thought possible, but I would be concerned if he took my gifts, used them unwisely and ended up a pauper. By the same token, eternal life should be cherished and when I find the best way to be happy eternally share this with those I love most - certainly my child. I would be sad if he were to turn from the faith I have inculcated with my words and life-example since I've walked ahead of him painfully answering questions in my life so as to avoid him having to go through that pain as well.My response could only be sadness at the thought that my child could easily loose his soul. The difference between the college example and the religion example is that life here is finite and does not transcend: we make mistakes in which a career path was taken and we take the consequences here. The eternal life has transcendent connections: bad if you make the wrong choices, but since it is not bound by time I can pray for my child to eventually earn the graces for him and, even at his deathbed he may yet choose the path I made for him.

I think if the parents are truly religious they won't worry about what the child believes or follows as long as he is a good human being and doesnt cause distress to others. After all the religion was created to teach people art of living.

I have witnessed this with my parents. When my brother showed he had different set of beliefs and wanted to be part of another clan, they were resistant at first, but decided to observe how he conducted his life. Over the years they have accepted it and are in harmony.

There are religious parents of the more accepting, liberal, progressive, & universalist variety who proclaim that their children's religious or lack of religious choice really DOESN'T matter as long as h/she is a loving & kind person. They contend that all is one & that God is accepting of all good. They even aver that religion is a man made artificial, even societal construct & that God knows the heart no matter what a person's religion is or lack thereof.

More conservative, dogmatic, fanatical, fundamentalist, & traditional religious parents really cannot accept that fact that their children choose not to be in the family religion so to speak. Such parents may even contend where did they do wrong for their children to reject their religion, choose another religion, or reject religion altogether. They may even feel that their children is in error, even damned & will exert any means to bring their children into the fold. Some may altogether disown their children for choosing a different religious, ethical, &/or spiritual path than theirs.

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